I have an '84 with a 4 cyl engine (automatic transmission). I am in the process of replacing the pulley. My question is, what is the correct size socket to use to remove the center (large) bolt on the pulley? Is it metric or standard? A standard 15/16ths seems to fit but I don't want to strip the head if it's supposed to be a metric size.
The archives say that this bolt is usually VERY tight and that it is usually necessary to use a breaker bar-No Problem, but what size socket??? ALSO What is the BEST way to IMMOBILIZE the crankshaft pulley so that it willl NOT TURN once I try to remove the center bolt? I checked the Haynes manual and it sounds like the technical writer was on drugs when he tried to describe the process. Very poorly written (see Pg.66 left column item #7 - Haynes manual). Item 6 just above this says that you have to Remove the starter. Is that REALLY necessary??? If you have done this job please let me know the best route to take. Thanks---This site is the BEST!!!

The one on my V-6 just came off. All you have to do is to tap it off. To do this put some pressure on your breaker bar and hammer the end (in the unscrewing direction) to break the nut loose, or you could use an impact driver to remove it. Hope this helps.

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As best as I can remember the bolt is 15/16. I've had good luck using an impact wrench to loosen it. Didn't have to hold the pulley or anything-just impacted it right off.

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Rod Schneider, Woodstock, Ga.
White 88 GT :)

Thanks to you both for the advice. I managed to remove the pulley bolts without the aide of a impact wrench, AND WITHOUT LOWERING THE ENGINE CRADLE. Here's how and this is VERY SLICK. After raising the car onto jack stands and removing the right rear tire and inner fender / splash guard,and alt.belt, I used an open
end wrench to immobilize the pulley and free the three bolts that hold it on. HERE'S HOW
Sit on the floor in front of the wheel well.
Look up slightly and you will see the center Large bolt which attaches the pulley hub & harmonic balancer to the crankshaft. Put a 15/16ths open end wrench on this center large bolt and rotate the pulley by pulling the wrench until the other (open) end contacts a part of the frame or an axle shaft. This in effect IMMOBILIZES the pulley. You can now use a regular socket wrench with
a 1/2 inch socket to remove the other 3 bolts WITHOUT having the pulley rotate. You will have to move each of the 3 bolts into the six o'clock position to remove them because of the clearance restrictions but this REALLY works well. Rotate the pulley and re-position the 15/16ths open end wrench
to contact the frame as you rotate the next bolt to the 6 o'clock position for removal.
You MAY have to use wd-40 to soak these bolts for a while, IF they are very tight. Mine needed only a short soak.
Once you have these 3 outer bolts removed the pulley needs only to be "tapped" on alternating sides and can easily be pulled off of the shaft & harmonic balancer, (which is behind the pulley), by HAND.
To remove the Center Large bolt you must almost certainly use an impact wrench. The problem here again is CLEARANCE. The center
Large bolt on the harmonic balancer is "just"
above the inner metal body frame of the wheel well. You will need to drill a series of holes,(very close together in a upsidedown "U" shape ) into the metal framework. Then bend out this section to give you a "MouseHole" (about 1" by 1")shaped hole to get a direct line on the center bolt. The metal on the framework can be bent off or chiseled off by breaking the little bits of metal between all of the little holes that you have drilled. BUT!!!****CAUTION****!!! there are
Brake lines behind the metal framework in this area so drill JUST until you penetrate the metal. To avoid breaking a brake line.
When you have made the "mousehole" attach the
impact socket (15/16ths)to the center large bolt and an extention that is long enough to reach your impact wrench. This SHOULD enable you to remove the center bolt of the harmonic balancer without having to lower the engine cradle. Thus avoiding ALL of the hassles and DANGER that , that job entails.